Solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure

ABSTRACT

A solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure is described. The solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure includes a glass concentrator and at least one photoelectric conversion layer. The glass concentrator forms a light incident surface and a plane. The plane includes a plurality of concentrating elements. Each concentrating element includes a hollow taper and a hollow pillar. The hollow taper includes a first opening. The hollow pillar includes a second opening and a third opening on opposite sides, in which the second opening is correspondingly connected to the first opening. The photoelectric conversion layer deposited onto inner side surfaces of the hollow tapers and the hollow pillars of the concentrating elements. The photoelectric conversion layer includes at least one p-type material and at least one n-type material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The application is a division of the application filed on Mar. 15, 2010,with an application Ser. No. 12/724,402 and entitled “SOLARCONCENTRATOR”, and claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number98108494, filed Mar. 16, 2009 and Taiwan Application Serial Number98130094, filed Sep. 7, 2009. The subject matters of theabove-identified applications are herein incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a solar device, and more particularlyto a solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the earth resources are wasted and the technology is developed, theshortage of the international energy resources is induced. In view ofthis, various countries in the world positively invest in thedevelopment of various alternative sources of energy. Among thealternative sources of energy, because sunlight is inexhaustible insupply and always available for use, it pays close attention to thedevelopment of solar energy apparatus for generating electric power,such as a solar cell.

A solar cell is a renewable energy that can directly generate electricpower by the interaction of the sunlight and semiconductor materials.The solar cell will not discharge any gas, which includes SiO₂, so thatthe solar cell is a green power without pollution and can improve theproblem of the earth's greenhouse effect.

The solar cell directly absorbs sunlight to generate electric power byusing the photoelectric effect of the semiconductor. The principle ofgenerating electric power of the solar cell is that when the sunlightirradiates the solar cell, the solar cell absorbs the energy from thesunlight to make a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor ofthe solar cell respectively generate electrons and holes, and toseparate the electrons and the holes to form a voltage drop to generatecurrent.

In order to increase the light-absorbing ability of the solar cell, acurrent method is to modify the design of a solar concentrator of thesolar cell. Refer to FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing thecollecting of light of a conventional solar concentrator. An entiresurface 102 of a conventional solar concentrator 100 is set with aplurality of trenches 104. When the sun irradiates the surface 102 ofthe solar concentrator 100, the incident sunlight 108 can be guideddownward by the trenches 104 to increase the energy absorptivity for thesunlight 108.

However, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the sunlight 108 is at a low anglerelative to the surface 102 of the solar concentrator 100, the sunlight108 cannot be effectively guided downward by the trenches 108 of thesurface 102 of the solar concentrator 100. Therefore, when the sunlight108 is at a low angle, the conventional solar concentrator 100 cannotachieve a good light-collecting effect.

Therefore, as the shortage of the energy resources is induced, a solarconcentrator having a high light-collecting effect is needed to increasethe light-absorbing efficiency of a solar cell for the energy of thesunlight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure, which includes aplurality of concentrating elements, and each concentrating elementincludes a hollow taper and a hollow pillar communicating with eachother, so that the range of collecting the incident light can bebroadened, thereby greatly increasing the light-absorbing effect.

According to the aforementioned aspects, the present invention providesa solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure. The solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure includes a glassconcentrator that forms a light incident surface and a plane and atleast one photoelectric conversion layer. The plane includes a pluralityof concentrating elements, wherein each concentrating element includes ahollow taper and a hollow pillar. The hollow taper includes a firstopening. The hollow pillar includes a second opening and a third openingon opposite sides, wherein the second opening is correspondinglyconnected to the first opening. The photoelectric conversion layer isdeposited onto inner side surfaces of the hollow tapers and the hollowpillars of the concentrating elements.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the plane is amonolithic structure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the plane is acombination of the concentrating elements.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, each ofthe hollow taper is a hollow triangular pyramid, a hollow quadrangularpyramid, a hollow polygon pyramid, a hollow cone or a hollow ellipticcone.

According to further another embodiment of the present invention, thefirst openings are substantially located on the same level.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the thirdopenings are substantially located on the same level.

According to still further another embodiment of the present invention,each of the hollow pillars is a hollow triangular prism, a hollowquadrangular prism, a hollow polygon prism, a hollow cylinder or ahollow elliptic cylinder.

According to still further another embodiment of the present invention,an angle of a sidewall of each of the hollow pillar is betweensubstantially 80 degrees and substantially 100 degrees.

According to still further another embodiment of the present invention,the plane includes a first plane and a second plane stacked on the firstplane. The hollow tapers are disposed in the first plane. The hollowpillars are disposed in the second plane.

According to still further another embodiment of the present invention,the solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure furtherincludes a cover covering the concentrating elements.

According to still further another embodiment of the present invention,the cover includes an anti-reflective surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention are more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing the collecting of light of aconventional solar concentrator;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the collecting of light of aconventional solar concentrator at another angle;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a concentrating element ofa solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with still anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the fabrication of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withstill another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with further anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with still further yetanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with still furtheranother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a concentrating element ofa solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure inaccordance with still further another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a concentrating element ofa solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure inaccordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. In the exemplary embodiment, asolar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 200 of a solarcell mainly includes at least one photoelectric conversion 203 and aconcentrator 201 that forms a light incident surface 222 and a plane202. The material of the plane 202 may be any material, such as glass, asteel material or a plastic material. The plane 202 includes a pluralityof concentrating elements 204. An inner side surface of eachconcentrating element 204 is covered with at least one photoelectricconversion layer 203, i.e. the photoelectric conversion layer 203 isdeposited onto the inner side surface of each concentrating element 204.The photoelectric conversion layer 203 has an ability of absorbing lightto generate electric energy. In one embodiment, the plane 202 may be amonolithic structure, and the concentrating elements 204 are formed inthe plane 202. In another embodiments, the plane 202 is not a monolithicstructure and is formed by combining the concentrating elements 204.

Each concentrating element 204 includes a hollow taper 216, wherein eachhollow taper 216 has an opening 210. In one embodiment, the openings 210of the hollow tapers 216 may be substantially on the same level. Forexample, the openings 210 of all hollow tapers 216 are located on thesame surface 214 of the plane 202, such as shown in FIG. 2. An angle θof each hollow taper 216 must be less than 90 degrees. In addition, theopening 210 of each hollow taper 216 may be in any shape, such as asquare, a rectangular or a hexagon.

In the present embodiment, each hollow taper 216 includes a taper tip212. The angle θ of each taper tip 212 may be, for example, less thansubstantially 90 degrees and greater than 0 degree. In one embodiment,the hollow taper 216 may be one of pyramids of different shapes, such asa hollow quadrangular pyramid shown in FIG. 2, a hollow triangularpyramid or a hollow polygon pyramid. The lengths of the sides of eachpyramid may be the same or may be different, i.e. the pyramids may beregular pyramids or irregular pyramids. In another embodiment, thehollow taper 216 may be a hollow cone or a hollow elliptic cone.

Each concentrating element 204 of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 200 is composed of the hollow taper216, so that when the incident light, such as sunlight, is at a lowangle relative to the surface 214 of the plane 202, the incident lightcan be guided downward to make the incident light collide with thephotoelectric conversion layers 203 many times to enhance thelight-absorbing efficiency, so as to broaden the effective collectingrange of the incident light, thereby effectively increasing thephotoelectric conversion efficiency.

In other embodiments, the hollow taper of the concentrating element ofthe solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure mayinclude at least two taper tips, and each taper tip may include anycurved surface to polarize the light. Refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3illustrates a cross-sectional view of a concentrating element of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention. A solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 200 a of a solar cell mainly includesat least one photoelectric conversion 203 a and a concentrator 201 athat forms a light incident surface 222 a and a plane 202 a. Aconcentrating element 204 a of the solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure 200 a similarly includes a hollow taper 216 a, butthe hollow taper 216 a includes two taper tips 212 a. The photoelectricconversion layer 203 a is similarly deposited onto an inner side surfaceof the concentrating element 204 a, i.e. an inner side surface of thehollow taper 216 a. In one embodiment, an angle θ_(a) of each taper tip212 a of the hollow taper 216 a may be, for example, less thansubstantially 90 degrees and greater than 0 degree.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent the light-collectingability of the concentrating element 204 a of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 200 a from being affected by thecovering of dust, the solar concentrator and photoelectric conversionstructure 200 a may selectively include a cover 218. The cover 218covers all of the concentrating elements 204 a to prevent the dust fromfalling into the hollow tapers 216 a of the concentrating elements 204a. In one embodiment, a surface 220 of the cover 216 may be modified asan anti-reflective surface by using, for example, a surface treatmentmethod to further enhance the light-collecting efficiency of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 200 a.

Refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withstill another embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure300 of a solar cell mainly includes at least one photoelectricconversion layer 303 and a concentrator 301 that forms a light incidentsurface 310 and a plane 302. The material of the plane 302 may be asemiconductor material, such as silicon or glass. The plane 302 includesa plurality of concentrating elements 308. Each concentrating element308 includes a hollow taper 304 and a hollow pillar 306. Thephotoelectric conversion layer 303 covers inner side surfaces of theconcentrating elements 308, i.e. the photoelectric conversion layer 303is deposited onto inner side surfaces of the hollow taper 304 and thehollow pillar 306. Each hollow taper 304 has an opening 322. Inaddition, each hollow pillar 306 includes openings 324 and 326 on twoopposite ends of the hollow pillar 306. The opening 322 of the hollowtaper 304 is correspondingly connected to the opening 324. In oneembodiment, the shapes and the sizes of the opening 322 of the hollowtaper 304 and the opening 324 of the hollow pillar 306 are the same tobenefit the corresponding connection between the hollow taper 304 andthe hollow pillar 306. In one example, the openings 326 of the hollowpillars 306 may be substantially located on the same level. For example,the openings 326 of all hollow pillars 306 are located on the samesurface of the plane 302, such as the light incident surface 310 shownin FIG. 4. In one embodiment, an angle of a sidewall of each hollowpillar 306 may be, for example, between substantially 80 degrees andsubstantially 100 degrees. In another embodiment, the sidewall of eachhollow pillar 306 may be vertical, and the angle of the sidewall of eachhollow pillar 306 is 90 degrees, for example.

In one embodiment, the plane 302 may be a monolithic structure, and theconcentrating elements 308 are formed in the plane 302. The plane 302may be composed of the same material. In another embodiments, the plane302 is not a monolithic structure and is formed by combining theconcentrating elements 308.

As shown in FIG. 5, in still another embodiment, a plane 302 a includestwo planes 328 and 330, wherein the plane 330 is stacked on the plane328. The plane 330 is set with a plurality of hollow pillars 306 a. Theplane 328 is set with a plurality of hollow tapers 304 a. The number,locations and sizes of the hollow tapers 304 a are corresponding tothose of the hollow pillars 306 a. The planes 328 and 330 are alignedand stacked with each other by setting alignment marks (not shown) onthe planes 328 and 330 to respectively correspondingly connect thehollow pillars 306 a in the above plane 330 and the hollow tapers 304 ain the underlying plane 328 to form a plurality of concentratingelements 308 a.

In the present embodiment, each hollow taper 304 has a taper tip 312. Aheight 316 of the hollow pillar 306 may be equal to any value. However,when the height 316 is equal to zero, i.e. each concentrating element308 only includes a hollow taper 304 without a hollow pillar 306, anangle φ of each taper tip 312 may be, for example, less than 90 degrees.When the height 316 is greater than zero, the angle φ of each taper tip312 may be equal to any value.

In other embodiments, the hollow taper of the concentrating element ofthe solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure mayinclude at least two taper tips, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.In one embodiment, the hollow taper 304 may be one of pyramids ofdifferent shapes, such as a hollow quadrangular pyramid shown in FIG. 4,a hollow triangular pyramid or a hollow polygon pyramid. The lengths ofthe sides of each pyramid may be the same or may be different, i.e. thepyramids may be regular pyramids or irregular pyramids. Corresponding tothe hollow taper 304, the hollow pillar 306 may be a hollow quadrangularprism, a hollow triangular prism or a hollow polygon prism. In addition,the lengths of the sides of each prism may be the same or may bedifferent, i.e. the prisms may be regular prisms or irregular prisms. Inanother embodiment, the hollow taper 304 may be a hollow cone or ahollow elliptic cone. Corresponding to the hollow taper 304, the hollowpillar 306 may be a hollow cylinder or a hollow elliptic cylinder.

Each concentrating element 308 of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 300 is composed of the hollow pillar306 and the hollow taper 304, so that when the incident light, such assunlight, is at a low angle relative to the light incident surface 310of the plane 302, the incident light can be effectively guided downwardto broaden the collecting range of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 300, thereby achieving the object ofincreasing the light-collecting effect.

In one embodiment, the photoelectric conversion layer 303 of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 300 typicallyincludes a p-type semiconductor layer, an n-type semiconductor layerand/or an i-type semiconductor layer, wherein the i-type semiconductorlayer is usually placed in between the p-type semiconductor layer andthe n-type semiconductor layer. After the fabrication of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 300, electrodes areformed to complete the fabrication of the solar cell.

In other embodiments, the concentrating element of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure may be in a form ofa trench. Refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional drawing of asolar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordancewith further another embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, a solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure400 of a solar cell mainly includes at least one photoelectricconversion layer 403 and a concentrator 401 that forms a light incidentsurface 414 and a plane 402. The material of the plane 402 may be asemiconductor material, such as silicon or glass. The plane 402 includesa plurality of concentrating elements 404. Each concentrating element404 includes a trench 410. The photoelectric conversion layer 403 isdeposited onto inner side surfaces of the concentrating elements 404,i.e. the photoelectric conversion layer 403 covers inner side surfacesof the trenches 410. In one concentrating element 404, the trench 410includes a concave 406 and two sidewalls 408. The two sidewalls 408 arerespectively connected to two opposite sides of the concave 406 and areopposite to each other. In one embodiment, each concave 406 may includea taper tip 412, and the trench 410 may be, for example, a U-like shapedtrench.

In one embodiment, the plane 402 may be a monolithic structure, and theconcentrating elements 404 are formed in the plane 402. The plane 402may be composed of the same material. In another embodiment, the plane402 is not a monolithic structure and is formed by combining theconcentrating elements 404.

In other embodiments, the trench of the concentrating element of thesolar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure may include atleast two taper tips. Refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a three-dimensionaldrawing of a solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structurein accordance with still further yet another embodiment of the presentinvention. In one embodiment, a solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure 400 a of a solar cell mainly includes at least onephotoelectric conversion layer 403 a and a concentrator 401 a that formsa light incident surface 414 a and a plane 402 a. The material of theplane 402 a may be a semiconductor material, such as silicon or glass.The plane 402 a includes a plurality of concentrating elements 404 a.Each concentrating element 404 a includes a trench 410 a. Thephotoelectric conversion layer 403 a is deposited onto inner sidesurfaces of the concentrating elements 404 a, i.e. the photoelectricconversion layer 403 a covers inner side surfaces of the trenches 410 a.In one concentrating element 404 a, the trench 410 a includes a concave406 a and two sidewalls 408 a. The two sidewalls 408 a are respectivelyconnected to two opposite sides of the concave 406 and are opposite toeach other. In one embodiment, each concave 406 a may include two tapertips 412 a, and the trench 410 a may be, for example, a W-shaped trench.

In one embodiment, the plane 402 a may be a monolithic structure, andthe concentrating elements 404 a are formed in the plane 402 a. Theplane 402 a may be composed of the same material. In another embodiment,the plane 402 a is not a monolithic structure and is formed by combiningthe concentrating elements 404 a.

In the present invention, each solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure may selectively include a cover to cover allconcentrating elements according to a practical need, such as theembodiment shown in FIG. 3, so as to prevent the light-collectingefficiency of the concentrating elements from being decreased due tocontamination.

Simultaneously refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9respectively illustrate a three-dimensional drawing of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withstill further another embodiment of the present invention, and across-sectional view of the concentrating element of the solarconcentrator. In the preset embodiment, a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 500 of a solar cell includes at leastone concentrating element 502. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.8, the solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 500 iscomposed of a plurality of concentrating elements 502 and at least onephotoelectric conversion layer 504.

As shown in FIG. 9, each concentrating element 502 mainly includes ataper. The material of the taper 508 may be a transparent material toallow light to pass through. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8and FIG. 9, the taper 508 is a quadrangular pyramid, so that the taper508 includes a light incident surface 510 and a plurality oflight-concentrating surfaces 512. The light incident surface 510 is oneside surface of the taper 508, the light-concentrating surfaces 512 areother side surfaces of the taper 508, and the light-concentratingsurfaces 512 are adjacently connected to the light incident surface 510.In another embodiments, the taper 508 may be a triangular pyramid or apolygon pyramid, and the triangular pyramid or the polygon pyramidsimilarly includes a light incident surface and a plurality oflight-concentrating surfaces.

In another embodiment, the taper of the concentrating element may be acone or an elliptic cone, and the cone or an elliptic cone includes alight incident surface and a light-concentrating surface. The lightincident surface is a flat surface of the cone or the elliptic cone, andthe light-concentrating surface is a side surface of the cone or theelliptic cone and is adjacently connected to the light incident surface.

Referring to FIG. 9 again, the photoelectric conversion layer 504 of thesolar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 500 covers alllight-concentrating surfaces 512, wherein the photoelectric conversionlayer 504 has an ability of absorbing light to generate electric energy.The photoelectric conversion layer 504 of the concentrating element 502of the solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 500typically includes a p-type semiconductor layer, an n-type semiconductorlayer and/or an i-type semiconductor layer (not shown), wherein thei-type semiconductor layer is usually placed in between the p-typesemiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. In one exemplaryembodiment, the concentrating element 502 may selectively include ananti-reflective structure 506, wherein the anti-reflective structure 506covers the light incident surface 510 of the taper 508 to make the lightsuccessfully enter the taper 508 through the light incident surface 510to enhance the light-collecting efficiency of the concentrating element502. The anti-reflective structure 506 may be an anti-reflective filmcoated on the light incident surface 510 of the taper 508, or ananti-reflective microstructure formed on the light incident surface 510by performing a surface treatment on the light incident surface 510 ofthe taper 508.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, each concentrating element 502 of thesolar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 500 iscomposed of a transparent taper 508, so that when the incident light,such as sunlight, is at a low angle relative to the light incidentsurface 510 of the taper 508 of the concentrating element 502, theincident light can be guided downward to make the incident light collidewith the photoelectric conversion layers 504 on the light-concentratingsurfaces 512 of the taper 508 many times to enhance the light-absorbingefficiency, so as to broaden the effective collecting range of theincident light, thereby effectively increasing the photoelectricconversion efficiency.

Refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of aconcentrating element of a solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent invention. In the present embodiment, a solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 600 includes at least oneconcentrating element 610 and at least one photoelectric conversionlayer 604. Each concentrating element 610 mainly includes at least onepillar 602, wherein the material of the pillar 602 may be a transparentmaterial to allow light to pass through. In one exemplary embodiment,the pillar 602 includes a light incident surface 606 and a plurality oflight-concentrating surfaces 608, wherein the light incident surface 606is one side surface of the pillar 602, the light-concentrating surfaces608 are other side surfaces of the pillar 602, and thelight-concentrating surfaces 608 and the light incident surface 606 arelocated on two opposite sides of the pillar 602. In the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 10, the light-concentrating surfaces 608 of thepillar 602 form a W-shaped contour. In another embodiment, thelight-concentrating surfaces of the pillar may form a V-shaped contouror a U-like shaped contour.

The photoelectric conversion layer 604 of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 600 covers all light-concentratingsurfaces 608 of the pillar 602, wherein the photoelectric conversionlayer 604 has an ability of absorbing light to generate electric energy.In one exemplary embodiment, the concentrating element 610 mayselectively include an anti-reflective structure 612, wherein theanti-reflective structure 612 covers the light incident surface 606 ofthe pillar 602 to make the light successfully enter the pillar 602through the light incident surface 606 to enhance the light-collectingefficiency of the concentrating element 610. Similarly, theanti-reflective structure 612 may be an anti-reflective film coated onthe light incident surface 606 of the pillar 602, or an anti-reflectivemicrostructure formed on the light incident surface 606 by performing asurface treatment on the light incident surface 606 of the pillar 602.

Referring to FIG. 10 again, each concentrating element 610 of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 600 is composed of atransparent pillar 602, so that when the incident light, such assunlight, is at a low angle relative to the light incident surface 606of the pillar 602 of the concentrating element 610, the incident lightcan be guided downward to make the incident light collide with thephotoelectric conversion layer 604 on the light-concentrating surfaces608 of the pillar 602 many times to enhance the light-absorbingefficiency, so as to broaden the effective collecting range of the solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure 600, therebyeffectively increasing the photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Refer to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional drawing of a solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure in accordance withyet another embodiment of the present invention. In the presentembodiment, a solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure700 includes a plurality of concentrating elements 702 and at least onephotoelectric conversion layer 706. Each concentrating element 702mainly includes a pillar 704, wherein the material of the pillar 704 maybe a transparent material. In one exemplary embodiment, the pillar 704includes a light incident surface 708 and a plurality oflight-concentrating surfaces 710, wherein the light incident surface 708is one side surface of the pillar 704, the light-concentrating surfaces710 are other side surfaces of the pillar 704, and thelight-concentrating surfaces 710 and the light incident surface 718 arelocated on two opposite sides of the pillar 704. In the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the light-concentrating surfaces 710 of thepillar 704 form a U-like shaped contour.

The photoelectric conversion layer 706 of the solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure 700 covers all light-concentratingsurfaces 710 of the pillar 704. In one exemplary embodiment, theconcentrating element 702 may selectively include an anti-reflectivestructure 712, wherein the anti-reflective structure 712 covers thelight incident surface 708 of the pillar 704 to make the lightsuccessfully enter the pillar 704 through the light incident surface708. Similarly, the anti-reflective structure 712 may be ananti-reflective film coated on the light incident surface 708 of thepillar 704, or an anti-reflective microstructure formed on the lightincident surface 708 by performing a surface treatment on the lightincident surface 708 of the pillar 704.

According to the aforementioned embodiments, one advantage of thepresent invention is that a solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure of the present invention includes a plurality ofconcentrating elements, and each concentrating element includes a hollowtaper and a hollow pillar communicating with each other, so that therange of collecting the incident light can be broadened, thereby greatlyincreasing the light-absorbing effect.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferredembodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the presentinvention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intendedto cover various modifications and similar arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which shouldbe accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar structure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar concentrator and photoelectric conversionstructure, including: a glass concentrator that forms a light incidentsurface and a plane, the plane including a plurality of concentratingelements, wherein each of the concentrating elements includes: a hollowtaper including a first opening; and a hollow pillar including a secondopening and a third opening on opposite sides, wherein the secondopening is correspondingly connected to the first opening; and at leastone photoelectric conversion layer deposited onto inner side surfaces ofthe hollow tapers and the hollow pillars of the concentrating elements,wherein the photoelectric conversion layer includes at least one p-typematerial and at least one n-type material.
 2. The solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure according to claim 1, wherein theplane is a monolithic structure.
 3. The solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure according to claim 1, wherein theplane is a combination of the concentrating elements.
 4. The solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure according to claim1, wherein each of the hollow taper is a hollow triangular pyramid, ahollow quadrangular pyramid, a hollow polygon pyramid, a hollow cone ora hollow elliptic cone.
 5. The solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure according to claim 1, wherein the first openingsare substantially located on the same level.
 6. The solar concentratorand photoelectric conversion structure according to claim 1, wherein thethird openings are substantially located on the same level.
 7. The solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure according to claim1, wherein each of the hollow pillars is a hollow triangular prism, ahollow quadrangular prism, a hollow polygon prism, a hollow cylinder ora hollow elliptic cylinder.
 8. The solar concentrator and photoelectricconversion structure according to claim 1, wherein an angle of asidewall of each of the hollow pillar is between substantially 80degrees and substantially 100 degrees.
 9. The solar concentrator andphotoelectric conversion structure according to claim 1, wherein theplane includes: a first plane, wherein the hollow tapers are disposed inthe first plane; and a second plane stacked on the first plane, whereinthe hollow pillars are disposed in the second plane.
 10. The solarconcentrator and photoelectric conversion structure according to claim1, further including a cover covering the concentrating elements. 11.The solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure accordingto claim 10, wherein the cover includes an anti-reflective surface.